John Frank Levey: Four Decades of Being Right For The Role
It’s the Season 2 Finale of Right For The Role, and today, the tables are turned!
Co-producer Trudi Roth takes over as host and interviews John Frank Levey about the career that made him one of Hollywood’s most respected casting directors. John reflects on the people, instincts, relationships, and experiences that shaped his approach to casting, including the importance of trusting your intuition and understanding the person behind the performance.
John and Trudi revisit some of the actors John recognized early in their careers, including Josh Gad and Jessica Chastain, and the complicated reality of auditions: what happens when an actor delivers a great performance but still does not fit a particular role.
Their conversation also explores John’s relationship with Mariska Hargitay and how honest feedback during the audition process helped her understand what the role required, ultimately leading to her casting on ER.
The conversation then takes an emotional turn as John discusses the responsibility that comes with casting stories that reflect real experiences, particularly his work on ER and Shameless.
He shares how seeking authenticity for an HIV and AIDS storyline introduced him to actors whose personal experiences brought extraordinary depth to their performances, while another story involving a transgender actor reminds him of the personal impact casting can have on people who see their own experiences represented on screen.
Trudi also asks John to reflect on the qualities that have defined his career, his pride in the collaborative nature of casting, and the ways his work has allowed him to influence both performers and audiences.
Key Takeaways
Discover why John considers his ability to trust his instincts and understand people one of the defining qualities behind his success as a casting director
Hear the stories of Josh Gad and Jessica Chastain before they became household names, and learn what John recognized in their early performances
Explore the difficult reality of casting when an actor delivers an exceptional audition but still does not fit the specific requirements of a role
Learn how authenticity and representation influenced John’s casting decisions on ER and Shameless, including stories that connected deeply with the actors and audiences involved
Hear John reflect on the personal impact of his career and why the opportunity to change someone’s life through casting has become one of the most meaningful parts of his work
Connect:
Visit Trudi’s website, It’s the TruStory
Click here to order a signed copy of John's memoir, Right for the Role.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my producers, Trudi Roth of It’s the TruStory and Jason Cercone of Bombtrack Media. (Jason is also our editor.)
We’re also grateful to Jonathan Medina and Jennifer Lee Laks for allowing us to use their studio space.
You can also enjoy the Right for the Role podcast on the following platforms: